Stoker feeding apparatus



June 1942- Arms LQS SINDEN STOKER FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 3', 1940 2 Shets-Sheet 1 mvm'on S v ATTORN Y $111169, 19 A. DE Los SINDEN STOKER FEEDING APPARATUS Filed April 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR 9 J -BYI 1 um ATTORNEY drawing the fuel from of the ship and drawn to a plurality of vstokers disposed between I gravity from the tending into and adapted to Patented June 9, 1942- UNITED S A-ms PATENT OFFICE STOKER rririi rii c arrm 'rus I I Alfred De Los Sinden,

Redler vConveyor Company,

Massachusetts corporation of Application April 9 Claims.

This invention relates paratus for supplying fuel to the stokers of a ship. 4

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved apparatus of the character specified in which provision is made for withthe bottom of the bunkers of the ship, elevating the material thus withdrawn and thereafter distributing the fuel to a plurality of stokers in a simple and efiicient manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved apparatus of the character specified having provision for maintaining the stokers of a ship suppliedwith fuel and in which provision is made for controlling the operation thereof whereby to stop the feed of the fuel when the stokers are filled and to automatically start the feeding operation when the supply in the hoppers has been diminished.

With'these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the stoker feeding apparatus and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification. I

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is 'a transverse sectional view of a ship embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stoker feeding apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation in cross-section taken on the line 83 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;- Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of a section of the conveying element preferably employed in the present feeding apparatus; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the control mechanism, to be referred to.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel and improved stoker feeding apparatus adapted to withdraw the fuel from the bottom of the bunkers which are to distribute the fuel thus withthe bunkers. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fuel is permitted to flow" by bottom of the bunkers into a which is adapted to elevate the it horizontally to be distributed conveying unit fuel and convey to the stokers.

The conveying apparatus preferably employed may comprise a dual unit having a portion exwithdraw fuel from to a stoker feeding aparranged upon either side Aurora, 111., assignor to Quincy, Mass, a

l940, Serial No."327,668 ,(01. 114-0, .5)

deliver the fuel to a bunker disposed on one side of the ship and to the stoker hoppers. A dupli-' cate conveyer portion of the dual unit is arranged to deliver bunker disposed on In operation,

the

either conveyer portion operated independently of the' other to all of the stokers supplied with fuel.

fuel to the stokers from a other side-of the ship. may be maintain The fuel bunkers are arranged symmetrically upon port may serve as ballast to k water. Thus, fuel may and to prevent any list 0 Provision is also made and starboard sides of the ship so that the fuel eep the ship trim in the be withdrawn from either 4 the ship balanced f the ship.

in the preferred embodiment of the invention for automatically controlling the operation of to terminate the the conveyers, whereby feeding operation of the conveyer when the last hopper in the group is filled and to again initiate the the supply in such operation thereof when hopper is diminished, as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings, l0 representsa ship which isprovided with duplicate bunkers. I2,

i4 arrangedsymmetrically upon the port and starboard sides of the ship. The power plant of the ship, which may include steam boilers is provided with a plurality of automatic stokers 20, 22. The stokers 20, 22 hoppers 24, 28 respectively, in alignment transversely of the ship and between the duplicate bunkers are provided with which are arranged l2, It. The dual conveying unit, indicated generally by the numeral 25 comprises, in effect,

operated conveying units two independently 28, 80 arranged parallel to each other and adapted t5 withdraw the fuel from their respective bunkers. to maintain all of the stoker hoppers supplied with fuel.

Since each conveying 4o apparatus is similar in both.

which is provided ing with the bottom of throughwhich the fuel withdrawn is elevated 60 zontal run 38 by an unit 28, 38 of the dual construction and mode of operation, a description of one will suffice for As herein shown, comprises a casing having with an inlet 34 communicat the conveying unit 28 a loop portion 22 the fuel bunker l2 and is arranged to flow by .The material thus an upright leg 86 indicated generally at". The horizontally extended run 88 passes over the top of each stoker hopper 24, 26 and is provided with a plurality of openings 42 in communic ation therewith through which the material is veying element is "terial will be carried across be fed into the next suc eeding hopper in the permitted to flow by gra ity to keep the hoppers filled.

In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveying element 40 may comprise a plurality of pivotally and detachably connected spaced flight members 44 of open construction and of general U-shape, a shownin detail in Fig. 5. Each flight member 44 is provided with a rigid connecting member 4! having at one end a hollow hub 48 and at the ation, and the unit 28 is other end an enlargement 50 capable of being received within the hollow'hub of a succeeding flight to pivotally connect the units together. The endless conveying element thus constructed is adapted, in cooperation with the walls of the casing through which it is drawn, toconvey the material therethrough in a continuous stream.

As herein shown, the endless conveying element 40. is arranged to be driven by an electric motor 52 mounted on top of the horizontally extended portion of the casing and which is connectedby a chain and sprocket drive 54 to the conveyer shaft 56 upon which a driving sprocket 58 is mounted. The endless conveying element 40 is arranged to pass over the sprocket 58 by which it is drawn through the casing. After passing through the lower or working run 38 of the conveyer, the endless conveying element is arranged to pass over the sprocket 58 and into an upper or return run 62 of the conveyer and over an idler sprocket or drum 64 disposed in the outer corner of the casing by which the conguided into the loop portion 32 of the conveyer. In passing around the corner portion of the working run of the conveyer, theconveying element 40 is arranged to be supported by an anti-friction device which may comprise a rotatable drum (0 which cooperates with the conveying rying the load of material around the comer fromthe vertical run 36 into the horizontal run 38 of the casing. Any material which may leak by the rotatable drum 10 maybe returned to the stream of material by being directed downwardly through a conduit 12 and into the return run, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

As above described, a duplicate conveying unit I. is provided to withdraw the material from-the bunkerjlon the starboard side of the ship and to distribute the fuel stoker, hoppers alongside'of and the. horizontally veyerare arranged incontiguous relationship to form a unitary casing,-as illustrated in crossparallel to the conveyer 28 and section in Fig. 4, the'separatepaths of the con-. veyers being horizontally extended leg of the conveyer II is divided by a partition wall 14. The

provided with a plurality of openings ll disposed in alignment with and forming-a continuation of the openings which communicate with the stoker hoppers 24. 26. A separate motor 15 is provided to drive the conveyer unit 30. W

From the description thus far, it will be observed that in the operation of the conveying apparatus, when the conve unit 2| is in operation, the material being the horizontal run It will flow into the adjacent 11099 1 24 until it is filled. Thereafter, the mathefilled hopper and and will continue along in thi manner until all the hoppers 24 and 28 are filled whereupon the conveying apparatus is brought element as the latter is carthus withdrawn to the 24, 28. The conveyer 30 runs extended portions of each con-- 42 in the conveying unit 28 and.

conveyed through motor by th pressure of Likewise, when the conveying unit 30 is in operidle, all of the hoppers may be filled in a similar manner.

In the illustrated embodiment of th invention, provision is made for-controlling the'operation of the 'conveyers to discontinue the feed when the'last hopper in the line i supplied with fuel. As herein ling mechanism may include a diaphragm switch 8| disposed in the final hopper and which may be operated to break the circuit to the driving the material within the hopper. The control switch may comprise a diaphragm l2 composed of leather or similar substance which is supported by an annular member 84 over an opening in thelhopper. The cenwhich the mercury switch the mercury switch 9| is held in whereby the circuit to tral portion ofthe diaphragm is connected by a link I to a pivotally mounted lever ll upon 90 is secured. The diaphragm I2 is normally caused to bulge inwar as. shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, by a spring 92 connected at one end to th switch lever 88 and at theother end to a stationary switch supporting member 94.

inwardly extended position of a horizontal'pocircuit to the motor closed When the final hopper sition to maintain the to operate the conveyer.

in the line is filled, the pressure of the material thereinfcauses the diaphragm to bulge outwardly 1 to rock the 'switch into an inclined position the motor isopened to terminate the feeding operation. I I

vAs illustrated in Fig. 1, a separate control circuit I I0, I02 is provided for each' conveying unit 23, 30 respectiveLv. The circuit llll, which is 7 arranged to control the operation of the motor 52 for the conveying 'unit 2! is provided with a lead I0 4 from the main circuit to the motor and a lead I 06 from the motor to the diaphragm switch ll which is disposed in the end hopper 2|. A lead Ill from the diaphragm II to the main circuit is provided with a manually operated V switch III by which the circuit I may be rendered inoperative when the conveyer 2| is idle and the conveyer ll is in operation. The circuit I02 arranged to control the operation of the motor 15 of the conveying unit II is provided with a similar diaphrag switch II in the end hopper 24 and a manually operated switch 2,

' as shown in Fig. 1.

' In the event that the iin'al stoker in the line -is shut down for any 'reason'so that the diaphragm switch-llis inoperative to effect opening and closing of the circuit, the circuit may be shunted-as indicated by dotted lines at HI in order to permit-a'conveying unit to be controlled manually by the. switches Ill, 2.

From the above description it will be observed that the dual stoker feeding apparatus ofrthe present invention is adapted to withdraw fuel from either bunker and .to distribute the fuel thus withdrawn to all of the stoker hoppers. It willbe apparent that the be operated to feed material-simultaneously from each bunker if desired by merely changing the controls. whereby the hoppers may'receive ma terial through the openings 42, I at'the same time, when it is desired to 'fill the hoppers quickly.

While the preferred embodiment of the invenshown, see Fig. 6, such control- In the normal orthe diaphragm,

present structure may other forms withln the scope of the torest. following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. For use in a ship having bunkers disposed symmetrically upon port and starboard sides of the ship and arranged when supplied with fuel to serve as ballast to keep the ship trim in the water and having a plurality of stoker hoppers arranged in substantial alignment transversely of the ship between said bunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus adapted to withdraw fuel from'either 'of said bunkers and to distribute it to all of said stokers whereby the ship may be kept on an even keel, said dual apparatus including two conveyers arranged side by sidein contiguous relation and-traveling in opposite directions, each conveyer being arranged to supply fuel to each of said hoppers.

2. For use in a ship having upon both sides of the ship and a plurality of stoker hoppers arranged transversely of the ship between said bunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus having portions extending within and adapted to withdraw fuel from either of said bunkers and to distribute the fuel thus withdrawn to all of the stokers, said dual apparatus including two conveyers arranged side by side in contiguous relation and traveling in-cpposite directions, each conveyer being arranged to supply fuel to each of said hoppers.

3. For use in a ship having bunkers disposed upon both sides of the ship and a plurality of stoker hoppers arranged transversely of the ship between said bunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus comprising two independently operated conveying units arranged side by side in contiguous relation andtraveling in opposite directions, each of said conveying units comprising a casing, an endless conveying element traversible through the casing, each casing having a portion provided with an inlet in communication with the bottom of a bunker and adapted to withdraw fuel therefrom by gravity, an upright portion through which the fuel is elevated, and a horizontal portion extending transversely of the ship each of said conveyers being bunkers disposed provided with a plurality of outlets communicating with each of said stoker hoppers and through which said fuel is delivered.

4. For use in a ship having bunkers disposed upon both sides of the ship and aplurality-of stoker hoppers arranged in alignment transversely of the ship between said bunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hpppers comprising dual conveying apparatus comprising two independently operated conveying units arranged side by side in contiguous relation and traveling in opposite directions, each of said conveying units comprising a casing, an endless conveying element traversible through the casing, each casing having a portion provided with an inlet in communication with the bottom of a bunker and adapted to withdraw fuel therefrom by gravity, an upright portion through which the fuel is elevated, and a horizontal portion provided with a plurality of outlets communicating with each of .saidstoker hoppers and through which said fuel is delivered and independent control means for each of said conveying units adapted to terminate the operation of a unit when the final stoker hopper in the line is supplied with fuel and to initiate the operation of. the unit when the supply in said final stoker hopper is diminished.

5.'For use in a ship having bunkers disposed upon both sides of the ship and a plurality of stoker hoppers arranged transversely of the ship between said bunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus comprising two independently operated conveying units arranged side by side in contiguous relation and traveling in opposite directions, each of said conveying units comprising a casing, an endless conveying element comprising a plurality of spaced flight members of open construction traversible through the casing, each casing'having a portion provided with an inlet in communication with the bottom of a bunker and adapted to withdraw fuel therefrom by gravity, an upright portion through.

which the fuel is elevated, and a horizontal portion provided with a plurality of outlets communicating with each of said stoker hoppers and through which said fuel is delivered.

6. For use in a ship having bunkers disposed upon both sides of the ship and a plurality of stoker hoppers arranged in alignment transversely of the ship between said bunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus comprising two independently operated conveying units arranged side by side in contiguous relation and traveling in opposite directions, each of said conveying units comprising a casing, an endless conveying element comprising a plurality of spaced flight memberspf open construction traversible through the casing, each casing having a portion provided with an-inlet in communication with the bottom of a bunker and adapted to withdraw fuel therefrom by gravity, an upright portion through which the fuel is elevated, and a horizontal portion provided with a plurality of outlets communicating with each of said stoker-hoppers and through which said fuel is delivered and independent control means for each of said conveying units adapted to terminate the water and having a plurality of stoker hoppers I arranged transversely of the-ship between said bunkers; apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus adapted to withdraw fuel from either of said bunkers and to distribute it to all of said'stokers, said dual conveying apparatus comprising two independently operated conveying units arranged side by side in contiguous relation and traveling in opposite directions, and

independent control means including an electric circuit and a diaphragm switch in the circuit for each of said conveying units adapted to terminate the operation of a'unit when the final stoker hopper in the line is supplied with fuel and to initiate the operation of the unit when the supply in said final stoker is diminished.

8. For use in a ship having bunkers disposed symmetrically upon port and starboard sides of the ship and arranged when supplied with fuel to serve as ballast to keep the ship trim in the water and having a plurality ofstoker hoppers arranged transversely'of the ship between saidbunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus adapted to withdraw fuel from either of said bunkers and to distribute it ,to all of said stokers, said dual conveying apparatus 6 comprising two independently operated conveying units arranged side by side in contiguous relation and traveling in opposite directions, and independent control means including an electric circuit and a diaphragm switch in the circuit for 10 each of said conveying units adapted to terminate the operation of a unit when the ilnalstoker hopper in the line is supplied with fuel and to initiate the operation of the unit when the supply in said final stoker is diminished, and a man- 15 ually operated switch in each of said circuits for rendering one of the-circuits inoperative when the other is in operation. 7 r

9. For use in a ship having bunkers disposed symmetrically upon port andstarboard sides of 2d the ship and arranged when supplied with fuel to serve as ballast to keep the ship trim in the water and having a plurality of stoker hoppers arranged transversely of the ship between said bunkers, apparatus for supplying flowable solid fuel to said stoker hoppers comprising dual conveying apparatus adapted to withdraw fuel from either of said bunkers and to distribute it to all of said stokers, said dual'conveying apparatus comprising two independently operated conveying units arranged side by side in contiguous relation and traveling in opposite directions, and

independent control means including an electric circuit and a diaphragm switch in the circuit for each ofsaid conveying units adapted to terminate the operation of a unit when the final stoker hopper in the line is supplied with fuel and to initiate the operation of the unit when the supply in said final stoker is diminished, anda manually operated switch in each of said circuits whereby toenable said eonveyingunits to be operated independently of, said control means when the final stoker in the line is cut out.

i ALFRED DE LOS SINDEN. 

